5 ways Muslim revert can strengthen their faith

Welcome to Islam! May Allah continue to guide you and strengthen your faith. Here are ways you can strengthen your faith as suggested by OnIslam:

1. The first thing you should do, of course, is to learn how to perform salah (the formal prayer) properly, and then get into the habit of performing the five daily prayers at their proper times. This means learning a little bit of the Quran — at east Surat Al-Fatihah (Chapter 1) and at least one or two short surahs — so that you can pray.

It is better, of course, if you learn more of the Quran. So make as much effort as you can to learn a bit each day. Also try to learn how to read the Quran in Arabic.

2. Another important step in developing your iman is to make new friends with devout Muslims and try to spend time with them. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to totally give up the friends you had before you were Muslim. Yet, if you spent your time with your old friends drinking or gambling or doing other negative and haram (forbidden) things, you will have to avoid those activities.

This may or may not mean dropping those friends also. If they are real friends, they should be willing to accept you for what you are now. You can still watch football together, for example, but substitute soft drinks for alcohol. If they're not willing to do that, they're not real friends.

play Muslims praying during eid

3. You can also increase your knowledge of Islam by reading, attending lessons at the mosque or in homes, and listening to audio files on the Internet or to tapes. Try to find a knowledgeable person who can answer your questions. Beware of those who seem to be knowledgeable, while they are not. Search for scholars through Islamic centers and get close to them. Seek knowledge from them.

Also, try to get information from more than one source so that you get a more balanced view of what Islam is. Try to take the middle ground and be moderate. Usually, there is more than a black-or-white choice, with many shades of gray in between.

In learning to practice your new faith, take things slowly. Don't be overenthusiastic by plunging in and trying to do many extra acts of worship at once. It was reported by Al-Bukhari that the Prophet (peace be upon him) told us that Allah loves best the acts that are repeated regularly, even if they were little. So choose one new action at a time and become very regular in performing it before adding another one.

Abuja National Mosque

 4. As for what more you should learn, I can't say without knowing what you already know. However, I can advise you to concentrate for now on learning more about the tenets of faith and`aqeedah (Islamic creed), and how to perform the salah and other pillars of Islam; paying zakah, fasting, and making Hajj (which you should try to save up your money to perform). Perhaps your local imam can suggest topics that you should learn about.

5. Finally, you asked for prayers that can be recommended in times of trial. The best thing to do is to pray from your heart. Ask God for what you need and expose your soul at His attendance. However, the only other prayers that are to be recommended are Prophetic supplications used by Prophet Muhammad and other great prophets (peace be upon them all) or the great companions.